Australia's David Warner warms up at Edgbaston in Birmingham, central England on June 12, 2013. Controversial batsman Warner sent a timely reminder to the struggling Ashes team with a 193-run innings against South Africa A Wednesday in Pretoria. (AFP/File)
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Controversial Australian batsman David Warner sent a timely reminder to the struggling Ashes team with a 193-run innings against South Africa A Wednesday in Pretoria.
Warner was booted out of the senior team before the five-Test Ashes series against England after punching home batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar after a Champions Trophy match during June.
Sent to Africa to rediscover his form, the Australian began disappointingly with innings of six and 11 in an 80-run defeat of a Zimbabwe XI in Harare.
But it was a very different story at LC de Villiers Oval in Pretoria as left-hander Warner let loose against the South African second stringers in a 315-minute spell at the crease.
His venomous 226-ball knock included 29 fours and one six before being bowled by Marchant de Lange to leave Australia A 399-5 after 89.4 overs at stumps on day one.
Australia are 2-0 down in the series after some woeful batting and with the third Test starting at Old Trafford in Manchester next week there could be second thoughts about keeping Warner in Africa.
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